Minister Currie announces the Family Medicine Sponsorship Program Application deadline

Madam Speaker,

Last November, I had the privilege to stand in this historic legislature and announce the introduction of an initiative that would guarantee Prince Edward Island 15 new family physicians practicing in our province by 2022.

The Family Medicine Sponsorship Program will provide funding for three medical students per year for a five year pilot period. The funds will be paid directly to the students in the form of stipends to assist them with their medical education expenses to a total of $110,000 over a four year period.

Students enrolled in a recognized Canadian Medical School who plan to practice family medicine can apply to the program at the end of their second year through a competitive application process.

Successful medical students will receive a $10,000 signing bonus at the end of their second year of medical school, $40,000 stipends in their third and fourth years and an additional $10,000 in each year of their two year residency training for a total of $110,000 per medical student.

In exchange for this financial support, students will sign a five year return-in-service commitment to the Province of Prince Edward Island agreeing to practice in the area of greatest need identified when the physicians enter the health system.

Interested students can apply through the Recruitment and Retention Secretariat website at healthjobspei.ca.

Deadline for applications is May 15, 2013. Preference will be given to Island students.

Successful applicants will be notified by July 30, 2013 and the first 3 physicians will begin practising in Prince Edward Island in 2017.

The Province of Prince Edward Island is committed to providing Islanders with the highest quality of health care services available including access to a family physician.

I encourage all eligible medical students to apply and look forward to making an announcement in the future about our successful applicants.